Brown is Back
The color brown is everywhere. Though neutrals have always been in style, past years have seen brown forgotten within influencers, and brands focus on all-black looks. However, late 2021 and 2022 see a change, as people seek to add more flair into their wardrobes. From Bottega Veneta’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection to Kim K’s iconic WSJ Innovator awards look, it is clear that brown is making quite the comeback.
In an article from the fashion blog TZR, Tyrell Harriot, founder of the iconic brand, TYRELL, explains, “[Brown] is muted enough for the people that are itching to add more color in their wardrobe without it being daunting.”
Essentially, brown will be the transition color to usher in a new era of maximalism. Maximalism is a style that revolves around risk-taking and rebellion, a common theme in different eras such as the 80s with movements like queer activism. Now once more it appears maximalism will be rising through the fashion ranks with the help of the color brown to knock minimalism off its throne.
Don’t Call it a Comeback
Millennials are quaking in their Uggs as Gen Z ushers in the revival of low-waisted jeans and everything Y2k. Technology has made it so that today’s teens are able to rapidly consume media and cycle through trends faster. Inevitably, these cycles have led to the reemergence of early 2000s styles, as the trends cycle back around.
“Overtime fashion repeats itself in different forms like with the 80s and 90s coming back, or Y2k,” junior Bianca Pelin said.
More than that, the blurry polaroids and cringy Myspace posts of the early 2000s have created a sense of longing for Gen Z. In a world filled with constant scrutiny from social media, today’s teens seek to escape the present with the past using their wardrobes.
Sustainability
Quickly changing trends are having positive effects on the environment through the art of thrifting. Gen Z has made a reputation as being the generation that prioritizes sustainability, leading to the rapidly growing popularity of thrifting. As trends continue to change quickly it is the only way to keep up without going bankrupt. “I think thrifting is a great way to protect against environmental waste especially [as] trends are becoming shorter,” junior Claire Pankros said. “Thrifting is a good way to bring back clothes that were previously put out of use.”
Old Money
It’s time for the Audrey Hepburns and Nate Archibalds of the world to emerge, as the ‘old money’ aesthetic continues to increase in popularity. The style consists of sweater vests, button-downs, pearls, and tweed (so much tweed). The key with the ‘old money’ aesthetic is to dress elegantly understated; a contrast to past years where the best decor for an outfit seemed to be a brand name.
“The simplicity of ‘old money’ clothes creates an interesting paradox: the things that don’t scream wealth are actually representative of extreme riches,” Marios Falekos and Lucy Morgan write in Glamour Magazine. “This paradox fascinates the TikTok community who has been bombarded with logo-filled, showy clothing by various influencers.” Many teens have been loving the simple yet complex aspects of fashion that the ‘old money’ aesthetic has to offer.
“I love that aesthetic…I’m in the process of trying to redo my whole wardrobe to be ‘old money,’” freshman Elizabeth Carlin said.
Over Size
As the end of 2022 begins to approach, the era of oversized style coined by brands like Balenciaga and Peter Do continues to be at the height of fashion. As the body positivity movement continues to grow and deservedly so, oversized clothing offers the opportunity to change the narrative of fashion away from body image. According to the Fashion Tag Blog “oversized trend and clothes are a form of body liberation, defocusing on body image and focusing on comfort, style, fabric quality, movement…”
Oversized fashion offers a certain creativity that fitted clothing doesn’t, freshmen Victor Fang explains that oversized pieces allow people to play with different silhouettes and shapes. The reason oversized clothing has risen in popularity and stayed at the top of the fashion pyramid for so long is because it offers much-needed inclusion that a lot of other trends do not.
“It doesn’t matter what body shape you are, anybody can wear it [and] still look good,” Fang said. “Not everything has to fit you, and sometimes it can look really cool if it’s bigger.”
Stompers
One of the big trends that has stayed consistent in 2022 is big shoes. Not chunky sneakers which have received some serious backlash after peaking in 2021— “I hate ugly sneakers, like the big chunky ones,” sophmore Brooks Steketee said—But rather, platform heels, specifically Mary Janes in bright hues like hot pink and neon green.
These shoes were originally made popular by 90s icons like the Spice Girls but have recently been revived by current celebrities like Florence Pugh and Olivia Rodrigo. These bold stompers only continue to grow in popularity as the year nears its end. 2022’s dominating themes in the fashion sector seem to be comfort and shape-shifting with trends such as oversized clothing.
And, these two ideas can be used to explain why platform heels have recently seen such a drastic increase in popularity. “…the height of platform shoes elongate the wearer’s silhouette while providing significantly more support than stilettos,” describes trend forecaster Agus Panzoni in an article with TZR. It seems as though these heels are here to stay.
